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Miracast

Miracast is a standard for wireless connections from devices (such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones) to displays (such as TVs, monitors or projectors), introduced in 2012. It can roughly be described as "HDMI over Wi-Fi", replacing the cable from the device to the display.[1]

The Wi-Fi Alliance launched the Miracast certification program at the end of 2012.[2] Devices that are Miracast-certified can communicate with each other, regardless of manufacturer. Adapters became available that plug into HDMI or USB ports, allowing devices without built-in Miracast support to connect via Miracast.[3] By 2017, ComputerWorld observed that "Miracast never quite caught on as a standard", with the Android operating system having dropped support in 2015 already.[4]

Both devices (the sender and the receiver) need to be Miracast certified for the technology to work. However, to stream music and movies to a non-certified device Miracast adapters are available that plug into HDMI or USB ports.[14]

On 29 October 2012, Google announced that Android version 4.2+ (from updated version of Jelly Bean) are supporting the Miracast wireless display standard, and by default have it integrated.[15] With Android 6.0 Marshmallow, released in 2015, Miracast support was dropped again.[4]

Microsoft also added support for Miracast in Windows 8.1 (announced in June 2013) and Windows 10.[21][22] This functionality first became available in the Windows 8.1 Preview, and is available on hardware with supported Miracast drivers from hardware (GPU) manufacturers such as those listed above.

The WDTV Live Streaming Media Player added Miracast support with firmware version 2.02.32

The Roku streaming stick and Roku TV started providing support for Miracast starting October 2014.[23]

On 28 July 2013, Google announced the availability of the Chromecast powered by a Marvell DE3005-A1, but despite the similarity in name and Google's early support of Miracast in Android, the Chromecast does not support Miracast.

The technology was promoted to work across devices, regardless of brand. Miracast devices negotiate settings for each connection, which simplifies the process for the users. In particular, it obviates having to worry about format or codec details.[25] Miracast is "effectively a wireless HDMI cable, copying everything from one screen to another using the H.264 codec and its own digital rights management (DRM) layer emulating the HDMI system". The Wi-Fi Alliance suggested that Miracast could also be used by a set-top box wanting to stream content to a TV or tablet.

Miracast can stream videos that are in 1080p, media with DRM such as DVDs, as well as protected premium content streaming, enabling devices to stream feature films and other copy-protected materials. This is accomplished by using a Wi-Fi version of the same trusted content mechanisms used on cable-based HDMI and DisplayPort connections.[26]

The latest Windows 10 release supports Miracast receiving along with UIBC support to allow for human interface devices (touch screens, mouse, keyboard) to also have wireless connectivity. Windows 8.1 supports broadcasting/sending the screen via Miracast. Miracast is also built into Windows Phone 8.1.[27] Developers can also implement Miracast on top of the built-in Wi-Fi Direct support in Windows 7 and Windows 8.[28] Another way to support Miracast in Windows is with Intel's proprietary WiDi (v3.5 or higher). A software-based Miracast receiver for Windows 8.1, AirServer Universal, was made available on 31 October 2014 by App Dynamic.[29]

Miracast support was built into Android with version 4.2[31] and starting with Android 4.4, devices could be certified to the Wi-Fi Alliance Display Specification as Miracast compatible.[32] Support was dropped again with Android 6.0 Marshmallow in 2015, in favor of Google's own Google Cast protocol.[4]

Miracast is also supported by BlackBerry operating system from version 10.2.1 onwards.